Clutch



May 28, 1935. y F. c. FISHER CLUTCH Filed Feb. 16, 1931 INVENTolg. Marzi Cjfasep a ATNYSF Patented May 28, 1935 PATENT OFFICE CLUTCH Franklin C. `Fisher, Los

Angeles, Calif., assigner, K

by direct and mesne assignments, of twenty per y.cent to Alfred W.

Knight, San Marino, Calif.,

A'twenty per cent -to Washington R. Freeman,

Los Angeles, Calif., Girard, Los Angeles, to J. RoydenEstey,

20 per cent to Louis B. Calif., and twenty per cent South Pasadena, Calif.'

Al'ipucauon February 16, 1931, seriaino. 515,906

Claims.

This invention relates to clutch mechanism for controlling operative connection between tWo shafts or other rotatable members, and particularly to a clutch mechanism provided with y5 means whereby operative connection between the two rotatable members may be either established or released for rotation in either one or the other direction or in both directions.`

. A particular object of this invention is to provide a clutch device which may be so operated as to maintain a positivefrictional operative connection between the two rotatable members during one direction of rotation thereof and to automatically release such operative connection upon relative rotation of one of said members in the other direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clutch device which maybe operated so as to selectively provide positive frictional operative connection between thetwo rotatable members'` in either. direction and automatic release in theother direction, orfto provide .for lpositive frictional operative connection, in both directions, or to provide for release in bothA directions,

A further object of the invention is to provide a clutch device of this type which is of simple and rugged'construction andA in which the wear on the parts is reduced to a minimum. Another object of the invention is toprovide a clutch device which is. extremely silent in operation both when it is functioning to 'establish operative connection between the two rotatable members and when it is in released position so as to permit. rotation of one of 'said members without affecting the other member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a` clutch device capable of immediate positive frctional engagement without permitting any lost motion between thedriving and driven members after the Aspeedof rotation of the driving member has reached that of Vthe driven.

The clutch device of this invention may be vapplied to any one of a considerablefnumber of different uses. For example, it may be utilized to provide in effect a ratchetl connection between two rotatable parts of a machine or tool, for example, a ratchet brace or screw driver,

It should be particularly pointed out that the establishment or release oi operative connection through the clutchv means of this inventionde- Apends not upon the absolute direction and speed of rotation, but rather upon the relative directions and speeds of rotation of the two rotatable members. Thus, if one of the rotatable members be considered as the driving member and (Cl. y192---48v) y the other as the driven member, if the device is adjusted to maintain operative connection therebetween for one direction of rotation of the driving member relative to the driven member and torelease such voperative connection upon relative rotation of the driving member in the reverse direction, the operative connection will be released not only when the driving member is rotated in said reverse direction while the driven lmember is'. at rest, but also whenthe driven member itself possesses a higherspeed of rotation in the rst named direction than does the driving member. By reason of these circumstances, the clutch device of this invention is peculiarly adapted for adaptation to the driving means of an automobile orv other motor driven vehicle, for the purpose of permitting so-called free wheeling, that is to say, free rolling ofthe wheels and operation of the' mechanism directly connected thereto without causing the motor to operate at a corresponding speed, whenever the vehicle is traveling at the Ydesired velocity'without requiring delivery offpower thereto from the motor, as for example when traveling down hill underthe action of gravity. The advantages of this sort-of a clutch device in an automobile or othery motor driven vehicle areobvious and need not be discussed in detail here, but this possible application is merely mentioned in order to illustrate one particularly useful prospective field of application-of this invention.

The clutch vdevice of this invention comprises essentially two coaxial rotatable members anda `helical spring comprising a plurality of turns secured adjacent one end to one of said rotatable members and'havin'g its other end free, and having a plurality of its turns disposed in proximity to a substantially cylindrical bearing surface on the other member and biased by its own resilience toward a position to bringsaid turns into light lfrictional engagement with said bearing surface. When the end portions of the helical spring are rotated relatively in one direction, the turns thereof tend to expand or increase in diameter,

while relative rotation of said end portions in the reverse direction causes the turns to tend to contract ordecrease in diameter, and it is evident that in a construction such as above described, relative rotation of the rotatable members in one direction will cause the helical spring to be moved and held, by frictional engagement with said bearing surface, in position of extremely tight engagement with said bearing surface, while relative rotation of said members-in the reverse direction will cause said helical spring to be such surface may depart slightly from al true cylinder in an axial direction, for example it may be slightly tapered, without departing from the spirit of this invention. The term ,cylindrical" as used herein is therefore intended to include any such slight departure from a true cylinder in an axial direction.

The helical spring may extend either around or within the cylindrical bearing surface on one of the rotatable members. In case saidspring extends around said bearing surfacewith the inner face of the turns of the spring tending toward frictional engagement with said bearing surface, relative rotation of the two rotatable members in such direction as tocause contraction of the spring will serve to establish and maintain an eifectiveoperative connection therebetween while relative rotation in such direction as to expand the turns ofk said spring will serve to release the operative connection between the rotatable members. On the other hand, when the helical spring extends within said bearing surface, with the outer faces of theturns thereof in position to frictionally engage said bearing surface, the conditions are reversed, and operative connection will be maintained when the members are relatively rotated in such direction as to expand the spring and will be released when they are rotated in such relative directions as to contact said spring.

The clutch device also ypreferably comprises means for positively `rotating the free end portion of said spring relatively to the other end thereof in such direction as to release the same from frictional engagement with said bearing surface, so as to permit free relative rotation of therotatable members in either direction Without affectingv one another. l

The helical spring is preferably of lgradually decreasing cross-section from the end whichis secured to one of the rotatable members toward the free end thereof, such decrease in cross-section being preferably obtained by tapering or decreasing the width of the successive turns of the spring in a direction parallel to the axis thereof, and serving to improve the effectiveness of operation of the spring underworking conditions as hereinafter described. v

According to one particular embodiment of .this invention, which I have shown herein as a preferred form thereof, by reason of its particular applicability to automobiles orthe like for permitting free wheeling as above described, the clutch mechanism comprises two helical springs.

mounted as above described and wound inre- Verse directions, so that one of said springs serves to .maintain operative connection upon relative rotation of the members in one direction and to release operative connection upon relative rotation in the other direction, while the otherv spring serves to maintain operative connection upon relative rotation in said last named `direction and to release operativeconnection upon relative rotation in the first namedr direction. With such'v a constructionit is evident that, Awhen both of the helical springs are adjusted to frictionally engage the correspondingvbearing surfaces, positive operative connection will be provided between the two rotatable members in both directions of rotation, while by adjusting one or the other of said springs so as to positively release the same from frictional engagement with the corresponding bearing surface, the clutch mechanism will be caused to maintain operative connection in only a certain direction of relative rotation and to release engagement between the members upon relative rotation in the reverse direction, and by so adjusting both of said springs the engagement between the rotatable members may be entirely released so as to permit free relative rotation thereof in either direction without affecting one another.

The accompanying drawing illustrates an embodiment of my invention, and referring thereto:

Fig. 1 is a partly sectional side elevation of a form of clutch mechanism according to this invention provided with two oppositely wound helical springs, so as to provide for maintaining or releasing of operative engagement in eithe direction or in both directions. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section ofthe clutch device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3-3 i Fig. 2. y

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 4 4 in Fig. 2. v

Fig. 5 is a partial transverse section on line 5-5inFig.2. w i

Fig. 6 is a'side elevation, partly broken away, of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 1, taken from the reverse sidethereof.

The form of clutch device shown in Figs. 4l to 6 inclusive comprises two shafts or elements I and 2, said shafts being arranged coaxially and each shaft being shown as provided with supporting means such as bearings 3 to maintain alignment thereof. Shaft I is inserted within, and in light frictional engagement with, a helical spring 4 which is attached at one end 5 by suitable means, for example by welding, to shaft 2,` and whose other end 1 is free from direct engagement with either of said shafts but is secured, for example by welding, to a releasing member such as sleeve 6. Said releasing sleeve 6 is freely rotatable on shaft I and is operatively interconnected with shaft 2 by means of a pin 8 xed to a control Vcollar 9, said pin extending through a straight slot I in a. sleeve I I keyed to shaft 2, and engaging in an inclined slot I2 in releasingsleeve 6, so thatsaid releasing sleeve Seis rotatable in relation to shaft 2 upon longitudinal movement of control collar Sl on sleeve II, due to the cam action of pin 8 on the relakSaid control collar 9 slides onA sleeve I I and is provided with a grooved portion engaged by fork I3 of a shifting lever I4.

A sleeve I is keyed to shaft I and inserted in light frictional engagement within a helical spring I6 in a manner similar to the insertion of shaft I within spring 4, spring I6 being woiuid in a direction opposite to that of spring 4. Said spring I6 is attached at one end Il bysuitable 'means, such as Welding, to sleeve II which'rotates with shaft 2, while the other end I9 of said spring is free from engagement with either of Athe sleeves II and I5 but attached by suitable means, such as welding', toa releasing member such vas sleeve I8. i

In this embodiment of the invention the helical springs 4 and IG are shown as being of gradually'tapered or decreasing width in an axial direction from the end where 'theyare attached to the rotatable elements 2 and II respectively toward the free endportions which are disposed in light frictional engagement withv the rotatable elements I- and I5 respectively.

Releasing sleeve I8 ridesfree on shaft I and is operatively interconnectedv with? sleeve Ii through keyway in releasing sleeve I8 engaging on spline 2| on a control collar 22, said control collar having attached thereto a pin 2 3 engaging in an inclined slot 24jin sleeve II. Sleeve I 8 is, therefore, rotatable in relation to sleeve II upon longitudinal movement vof control collar 22 on sleeve II, dueto the cam action of pin 23 in the inclined slot 24, and to the fact that sleeve I8 is substantially restrained from longitudinal movement as hereinafter explained. Control collar 22 is provided with .a grooved portion engaged by fork 25 of shifting lever 26.

Assuming control Icollars 9v and 2.2 to be in the positions shown, longitudinal movement of control collar 9 to the right in Fig. 2 produces a rotation of releasingsleeve E in relation to shalft 2 in such direction as to produce an enlargement in the diameter of spring 4iby twisting of said spring due to the rotation of spring end 1 in relation to spring end 5 lattached to shaft v2, thereby releasing springv 4 from frictional engagement with shaft I. It will be observed that, in order for sleeve 6 to be rotated upon longitudinal movement of control collar 9,- as above described, said sleeve must itself be substantially held against longitudinal movement, for example by-the hub portions II and I5 of sleeves II 'and I5 as shown in Fig. 2, although a certain eter of spring IB by the twisting of said spring due to the rotation of spring end I9 by releasing sleeve I 8 in relation to spring end l'I fixed to sleeve II, thereby releasing spring I6 from frietional engagement with sleeve I5. In yorder to produce this rotativemovement. sleeve I8 mustv also be substantially held against longitudinal movement,- for example by engagement ofthe hub portion I8 of said sleeve between hub portion I5' and fixed bearing 3, although in this case also a limited amountof'clearance may be provided, as shown in Fig. 2.

* The form of clutch device shown in l to 6 may be operated with either shaft playing Athe part of driving member. For `purposes of illustration, shaft I may be considered as driving member. the position shown and releasing sleeve I8 being in shifted position so as to release the frictional engagement yof spring. I6 upon sleeve I5, and` assuming shaft 2 to be propelling some form of mechanism possessing inertia, shaft I upon being rotated by suitable driving means in a direction opposite to the direction of winding of helical spring4 exerts a slight frictional drag on said spring 4 near end 'I causing end l to creep slightly in the direction of rotation of shaft I producing a tightening of spring 4 due to the decrease4 in Assuming releasing. sleeve 6 to -bein y diameter of saidspring by said creeping on said shaft with consequent increase offrictional `engagement therebetween, saidl increased frictional engagement, being' progressively communicated throughout the entire length of spring4unt'il all play and` resiliency in saiduspring is taken up, whereupon shaft I-becomes inpositive frictional engagement with shaftl through spring 4.

The amount of rotation of shaft I. before being completely held in frictional engagement by spring `Il is governed by the degree. of accuracy with whichsaid spring is fitted to said shaft and by the length and resiliency of said spring. Un-V der optimumconditions there is no perceptible i movement of shaft I ahead of shaft 2 during the clutching process, although. an extremely smooth gripping action is obtained. ,Upon the relativer tation of shaft I in a direction opposite to that established in shaft 2, such as would occur ifthe driven shaft 2` should tend to rotate faster than the driving/shaft I, the frictional drag on spring Il is reversed, whichaction is productive oi a slight rotation of springlin the direction of relative rotation of shaft ,.I, producing an enlargement of the ,diameter of spring 4 with consequent decrease of frictional engagement of said spring with said shaft I. resulting in a substantially free release of said shaft I by said spring, and allowing shaft 2 torotate independent of shaft I, or allowing shaftl I to rotate in a reverse kdirection to thatabove assumedk independent of shaft 2,. Upon a. second reversal of thedirection of relative rotation of shaft I, as for example incase of an acceleration' of shaft I to the speed of rotation of shaft 2, the slight frictional 4drag of shaft I on springjll by which said springy was heldiny nongripping position will be immediately released. allowing said spring to reassume an unstrained condition; further acceleration of shaft'I causing positive frictional engagement of spring 4with subsequent operation of shaft 2. 4

Thetapering or decreasing of the springs 4 and I6 decreases the coss-sectionand consequently the strength of the successive turns.

Inasmuch as the transmissionfof ltorque or power 'the attached end thereof?, 'and theformation of the springsas above described therefore proportions the strength of the spring in accordance withv the load to be transmitted thereby. Furthermore, the'relatively small cross-section and widthlcf consequently lighter strengthbof the outer turns of the respective springs imparts a relatively high flexibility to the free end portions thereof and thus makes these portions quite sensitive or susceptible to relative rotation in one direction or the other by light frictionalengagement with the'respective parts engaged thereby, so that the springs respond smoothly and instantaneously'to sudden changes in operatingconditions and at the same time possess sufficientl strength to pre` vent breakingor'deformation thereof under the Vseverest and most sudden strains imposed thereon.

Lateral,` movement of control collar ,9 toithe right will occasionv a definite release of springvlll from shaft I by action ofreleasing sleeve as above described, at any time, allowing shafts I and 2 to rotate in either direction independently.

Assuming releasingk sleeve G to be in a position so Vas to release the frictional engagement of spring 4 on shaft I and assuming releasing sleeve I8 to be in the position. shown, upon rotation of sleeve I 5 by shaft `I in adirection opposite to the direction of winding of helical springIG, i. e., a direction reverse to that in which shaft I operated through spring 4 to drive shaft 2 as above described, sleeve I5 exerts a slight frictional drag on spring I6 near end I9v causing end I9 to creep slightly in the direction of rotation of sleeve I5 producinga tightening of spring I6 on sleeve I5, due to the decrease in diameter of saidV springby said creeping, with consequent increaseof fric# tional engagement therebetween, said frictional engagement being lprogressively communicated throughout the entire length of spring I6 until all play and resiliency in said spring is taken up, whereupon sleeve I5becomes in positive frictional engagement with shaft 2 through sleeve II and spring I6.

Upon the relative rotation of sleeve I5 in a direction opposite to that established in shaft 2, as for example in case of a tendency of shaft 2 to rotate at higher speed than shaft I,the frictional drag on spring I6 is reversed, which action is productive of a slight rotation of spring I6 in the direction of relative rotationlof sleeve I5, producing an enlargement of the diameter of spring I6 with consequent decreaseof frictional engagement of said spring with said sleeve, resulting in a substantially free release of said sleeve by said spring, and allowing shaft 2 to rotate independentof shaft I, or allowing shaft I to rotate in the reverse direction to that above assumed independent of shaft 2. Upon a second reversal in the' direction of relativerotation of shaft I, as for example in case of an acceleration of shaft l to the speed of rotation of shaft 2,` the slight frictional drag of sleeve I5 on spring I6 by which said spring was held in non-gripping position will be immediately released, allowing said spring to reassume an unstrained condition; further acceleration of shaft I causing positive frictional engagement of spring I6 with subsequent operation of shaft 2.

Lateral movement to the right of control collar 22 will occasione. definite releaseof spring I6 from sleeve I5 by action of releasing sleeve I8 as above described at any time, allowing shafts I and 2 to rotate in either direction independently.

Control collars 8 and 22 and the releasing sleeves 6 and I8 controlled thereby may be selectively operated to produce a clutching action on shaft 2 in either direction of operation of shaft I', or, upon both collars being. set in inoperative or releasing position shaft I will have no operative connection with shaft 2 in either direction 'of' rotation, or, upon both collars being set inopera-v tive position, positive operative connection isl established between shafts I and 2 in both directions of rotation,A By means of the various'above operations and combinations thereof the mecha-l nism is capable of being operated to maintain a ypositive operative connection between rthe two It will be understood that sufficient rotatable play is provided between the rotatable element 2 and its releasing sleeve 6 and between rotatable element II and its releasing' sleeve I8, so as to permit the slight relative rotation of said releasing sleeves and of the end portions ofthe respective' springs connected thereto which is incident to contraction or enlargement of said springs for gripping or releasing the respective rotatable elements I and I5. For this purpose the pins 8 and 23 may be made to fit loosely within thev end portions of the respective slots in which said pins are engaged when the respective springs are in position for operation, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. It may be pointed out that saidreleasing sleeves are notrequired to determine the normal angular position of the free ends of the respective spring when the springs are in position for operation, said springs'being normally held by their own strength and resilience in the properposition of light frictional engagement with the respective rotatable elements I and I5, and the rotatable-play between the respective releasing sleeves and the rotatable elements 2 and I I serving to permit displacement of the freeend portions of said springs in either one vdirection or the other to produce either tight frictional engagement of said springs with the elements I and I5 or release of said springs therefrom. v

The above described clutch mechanism may be likened in clutching action toa clutch device of a ratchet type comprised of two concentric rings oan infinite number of ratchet teeth, clutching action being positiveat any position of either rotating member. It will be understood that the form of the invention shown may be applied in connection with power transmission, as in the transmission gear of a motor-vehicle, or in connection with a. tool of the ratchet type. For example, in the form shown, shaft I may represent a handlemember and shaft 2, an operated member carrying a bit, drill, or screw driver blade, and the control levers I 4 and 26 will, in that case, be suitably mounted onv the handle member for convenient operation.

I claim: v

1. In combination, 'coaxially arranged driving and driven shafts each having concentrically arranged sleeves attached thereto with a helical clutch spring attached by suitable Ameans to one shaft and in. slight frictional engagement with the other shaft, and a helical clutch spring attached by 'suitable means to one concentric sleeve and in slight frictional engagement; with the yother concentric sleeve, said .first-named spring cooperating with the driving shaft to transmit motion of said shaft to the driven shaft and releasing said driving shaft upon the reversal of rotationof said driving shaft in relation to the driven shaft, the second-named spring cooperating with the concentric sleeve attached to the driving shaft during the reverse direction of rotation of said shaft to transmit motion of said driving concentric sleeve to the driven concentric sleeve and thence to the driven shaft, and releasing said driven concentric sleeve upon the reversal of rotation of the driving shaft in relation toV the driven shaft, substantially as described. Y

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 and comprising, in addition, control means for selectively operating the helical `clutch springs to release same from the member with which they frictionally engage;

3. Incombination, a rotatably mounted driving element. a rotatably mounted driven element axially aligned with said driving element, a helical spring rigidly connected to one of said elements in drive-communicating relation at one end and in light frictional engagement with the other `of said elements at the other end thereof and wound in such direction as to provide a driving connection between said elements for rotation in one direction and to freely release such driving connection in the reverse direction, means named directiorrand to freely release such driving connection upon rotation in said first named direction.

y 4. In combination, a rotatably mounted driving element, a rotatably mounted driven element axially aligned with said driving element, two reversely operating helical spring Imeans cooperating with said elements, each of said helical spring means b eing rigidly connected to one of said elements in drive-communicating relation at one end thereof and inlight frictional engagement with the other of said elements at the other end thereof, one of said spring means operating to provide a driving connection from the driving element to the drivenelement in one direction of rotation and to release suchconnection upon relative rotation of the driving element in the reverse direction, and the 4other of said helical spring means operating to provide a driving connection from said driving element to said driven element upon rotation of the driving element in the direction opposite to said first named direction and to release such connection upon relative rotation of said driving element lin the reverse direction to said last named driving direction, and vmeans operatively associated with one of said spring means at the end thereof in said light frictional engagement for forcibly releasing said one spring means from its frictional engagementwith the element normally engaged thereby.

5. In combination, a driving element, a driven element and two reverselyl operating helical spring means cooperating with said elements to provide for driving the driven element in either direction and to automatically prevent the driven element becoming the driving element upon reversal of relative motion of said elements in either direction of rotation, each helical spring means having one end positively connected to one of said elements in drive communicating relation and having its other end in. light frictional engagementV 80 with the other of said` elements, and means operatively associated with each of said spring means at A engagement.

r, FRANKLIN C. FISHER. 35 

